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The chosen seeds of great events
Are thinly sown and slowly rise,
And Time the harvest-sithe presents
In season to the good and wise.
Hymning to the harp my story,
Fain would I record his glory.

STROPHE IIT.

Pouring forth with heavy heart
Truth unleaven❜d pure of art,

Like the hallow'd bard of yore,
Who chanted in authentic rhymes

The worthies of the good old times,

Ere living vice in verse was varnish'd o'er
And Virtue dy'd without a song.

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Support of friendless right, to pow'rful wrong
A check, behold him in the judgment-seat!
Twice there approv'd in righteousness complete:
In just awards how gracious! temp'ring law
With mercy, and reproving with a winning awe. 80

ANTISTROPHE III.

Hear him speaking, and you hear
Reason tuneful to the ear!

Lips with thymy language sweet,
Distilling on the hearer's mind

The balm of wisdom, speech refin'd,

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Celestial gifts!---Oh! when the nobles meet,
When next, thou sea-surrounded land!

In vain they shall the charmer's voice desire,
In vain those lips of eloquence require,
That mild conviction which the soul assails,
By soft alarms and with a gentle force prevails!
EPODE 111.

To such persuasion willing yields
The lib'ral mind in freedom train'd,
Freedom! which in crimson'd fields
By hardy toil our fathers gain'd,
Inheritance of long descent !
The sacred pledge so dearly priz'd
By that blest spirit we lament.
Grief-easing lays by grief devis'd,
Plaintive numbers gently flowing,
Sooth the sorrows to him owing!

STROPHE IV.

Early on his growing heir
Stamp what time may not impair
As he grows, that coming years
Or youthful pleasures, or the vain
Gigantic phantom of the brain,

Ambition, breeding monstrous hopes and fears,
Or worthier cares to youth unknown,
Ennobling manhood, flow'r of life full blown,
May never wear the bosom-image faint:
O! let him prove, what words but weakly paint,
The living lovely semblance of his sire,

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ANTISTROPHE IV. a

Ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace.

Still renewing in the race,

Once thy father's pleasing hope,
Thy widow'd mother's comfort now,
No fuller bliss does Heav'n allow,

While we behold yon' wide-spread azure cope
With burning stars thick lustred o'er,
Than to enjoy and to deserve a store
Of treasur'd fame by blameless deeds acquir'd,
By all unenvy'd and by all desir'd,

Free gift of men, the tribute of good will!
Rich in this patrimony fair, increase it still.,

EPODE IV.

The fulness of content remains

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120

Above the yet unfathom'd skies,
Where triumphant gladne s reigns,

Where wishes cease, and pleasures rise
Beyond all wish, where bitter tears
For dying friends are never shed,
Where sighing none desire past years
Recall'd or wish the future fled.
Mournful measures, O relieve me!

Sweet remembrance! cease to grieve me.

STROPHE V.

He the robe of justice wore,

130

When the magistrate was sought
With yearly gifts. Of what avail

Are guilty hoards? for life is frail,

And we are judg'd where favour is not bought.
By him forewarn'd, thou frantic Isle !

How did the thirst of gold thy sons beguile!
Beneath the specious ruin thousands groan'd,
By him, alas! forewarn'd, by him bemoan'd.
Where shall his like on earth be found? oh when
Shall I once more behold the most belov'd of men!

ANTISTROPHE V.

Winning aspect, winning mind!

Soul and body aptly join'd!:
Searching thought, engaging wit,
Enabl'd to instruct or please,
Uniting dignity with ease,

By Nature form'd for ev'ry purpose fit,
Endearing Excellence !---O why ·

Is such perfection born, and born to die!
Or do such rare endowments still survive
As plants remov'd to milder regions thrive
In one eternal spring, and we bewail

140

150

The parting soul new-born to life that cannot fail, 16a

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Where sacred friendship, plighted love,

Parental joys unmix'd with care,
Thro' perpetual time improve?

Sublimer raptures unreveal'd,

Beyond our weak conception pure?
But while those glories lie conceal'd
The righteous count the promise sure,
Trials to the last enduring,

To the last their hope securing.

TO THE RIGHT HON.

WILLIAM PULTENEY, ESQ.

May 1, 1723.

1.

WHO much distinguish'd, yet is blest?
Who, dignify'd above the rest,
Does still unenvy'd live ?

Not to the man whose wealth abounds,
Nor to the man whose fame resounds,
Does Heav'n such favour give,

Nor to the noble born, nor to the strong,

Nor to the gay, the beautiful, or young.

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Whom then, secure of happiness,

Does ev'ry eye beholding bless
And ev'ry tongue commend?

Him Pulteney! who, possessing store,
Is not solicitous of more;

170

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